July 3/99 5:29 am - Canmore World Cup Women's Lap by Lap reports

Posted by Editoress on 07/3/99

2:35pm - World Cup #6 about to start in Canmore

The women are getting ready to start todays race in Canmore (scheduled to start at 1PM local time). The conditions are not great. It is about 6 degress celsius, it is raining. "It is going to be a cold, cold wet race" were Rob's words.

Ther will be 65 women staring. Pezzo is the only rider in the top 10 not attending and ther are 2 other from the top 20 not participating today.

3:00pm - Women's race has started

The women will race 3 laps today. The race was to be 4 laps, but due to the weather conditions it has been shortened. The steep technical section called The Sunlight Laundry Chute (or just The Chute) which had been removed yesterday, has been added back in.

At the end of the start loop and as they head out onto the course it is Mary Grigson followed by Alison Sydor and Gunn-Rita Dahle. Chrissy Redden is sitting in 15th. It is raining and 7 degrees C.

3:35pm 1 km from the end of lap 1

Gunn-Rita Dahle has 20 seconds on Alison Sydor who is riding with Anabella Stopparo. The it is Epifanova and Caroline Alexander another 15 seconds back of them. In 5th at 1:20 is Alison Dunlap, then Ruthie Mathies at 2:00. Leslie Tomlinson and Chrissy Redden are 11th and 12th at 2:10.

Chantal Doucourt is out with a mechanical.

While the course conditions are wet an slippery, the mud is not caking (thus weighting them down) on the tires and riders.

4:15pm 1 km from the end of lap 2

Dahle has extended her lead over Sydor and Stopparo to 55 seconds. Epifanova is 4th at 1:45. Alexander in 5th at 2:00 and Dunlap 6th at 2:56. Ruthie Mathies 8th 3:50. Chrissy Redden 11th 5:20. Leslie Tomlinson 14th at 6:25 and Leboucher is in 16th at 6:45. Amber Chorney 17th at 7:10 and Melanie McQuaid at 7:40 is 18th.

The rain is coming down harder, but the riders seem to be enjoying riding some of the more technical parts of the course. Rob says they are grinning - (but it could be a grimace in disguise).

5:20pm Dahle hangs in for the win

Gunn Rita Dahle takes a well deserved win today in Canmore. Riders coming across the line were collapsing form the cold (including Alison Sydor). Many suffering from hypothermia and are being wrappped in blankets and hurried into the racers tent which is being heated with huge propane construction heaters to help alleviate the cold. The awards ceremony has been cancelled until tommorrow morningand riders are being told to "Go Get Warm". And, just to show that mother nature has no mercy, it is snowing again.